Feeling Like a Cog in the Healthcare Machine? We Get It.
Going to yet another medical appointment, waiting for hours, andall the rest that comes with chronic illness can make you feel like a number. In this column for HealthCentral, I share tips for person-first care at the doctor’s office: ““See how the vocal cords are stiff? This is common in people with rheumatoid arthritis or…
How Chair Dancing Helps Me Exercise with RA and Disability
Being physically active is important when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exercise is useful for all of us, but when you have RA, it can be an vital part of supporting your joints and reducing pain. But for some of us, RA has caused so much damage to our bodies that exercise hurts. So. how…
You Deserve a Better Shower With RA
Do pain and fatigue make this daily ritual an ordeal rather something to enjoy? Check out my tips for showering with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain in my new column for HealthCentral: “STARTING THE DAY with a shower can be one of the most exhausting things you do with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Mornings can be hard,…
This Year, Embrace Goals That Impact Your RA for the Better
Getting a slow launch on 2023? Ditched your resolutions? Check out my approach to setting intentions that puts long-term wellness with RA front and center in my first HealthCentral column for the new year: ““NEW YEAR, NEW me!” For many, self-improvement is an essential part of January, along with social media posts about the ambition to…
The Seated View Top 5 Posts in 2022
2022 was an interesting year. Here on The Seated View I had a bit of an involuntary blog hibernation as the challenges of life with chronic illness became pretty overwhelming. But in a fit of a well-rested post-holiday optimism, I decided it was time to reawaken this site of mine and what better way to…
Made With RA: Made With Love – Celebrating the Season, RA-Style
In my latest column for HealthCentral, I share holiday hacks that make this magical time accessible to your RA self: “THE HOLIDAY SEASON can be very stressful and not just because we’re packing a lot of extras into an already full life. For some, it’s the extra expense, others dread holiday meals marred by conflict…
Made With RA: How to Get the Sleep You Need With RA
Rest is key to functioning well with rheumatoid arthritis, but what do you do when your RA is often what keeps you up at night? In my new column for HealthCentral, I share tips to get the sleep you need: “WHEN IS THE last time you had a good night’s sleep? The kind that has you…
How Do You Cope With RA Burnout?
It might be a term most commonly associated with your 9-to-5 work, but chronic conditions are 24/7, and they can cause burnout, too. In my new column for HealthCentral, I delve into the causes of chronic illness burnout and share tips on how to reduce the impact: “I AM SICK and tired of feeling sick and…
How I Use Swearing to Cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
Coping with rheumatoid arthritis pain takes a toolbox of many different remedies and trips. In addition to the standards, such as medication, heating pads, ice packs, and careful stretching, mine also includes swearing like a sailor. My new essay for CreakyJoints Canada shares my swearing story and tips on how to use curse words to…
Balancing RA and Fibromyalgia
I’m one of the almost quarter of people with RA who also have fibromyalgia. In my new column for HealthCentral, I share how I manage these two chronic pain conditions: “IT WAS A kind of pain I had never felt before, even in my then 30+ years of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This was a…
Made With RA: A Case for Identifying As ‘Disabled’
Could coming out as disabled help you live a freer life with RA? My new column looks at the benefits of identifying as a person with a disability: “DO YOU CONSIDER yourself disabled? Our perception of being disabled tends to be limited to needing a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair, and some wonder whether…
Made With RA: Know What Could Level-Up Your Life With RA? A Pet.
My latest column for HealthCentral talks about the benefits of pets when you have rheumatoid arthritis and shares tips for what you need to consider before getting an animal: “MY LAP HAS been the domain of quite a few animals over the years. Some enjoyed the cuddle only for a short time, while with others…